Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Vincent K. Meyer

Vincent Kenneth Meyer’s spirit and soul went to be with the Lord on Sept. 16, 2006, due to an accidental shooting at his home in Tacoma, Wash. He was 21.

Vincent was born Nov. 16, 1984, in Fairbanks to Heike J. Meyer and Robert Ramsay.

Throughout his wonderful 21 years of life, Vincent traveled often between Fairbanks, Tacoma, and San Pedro, Calif., and he was also fortunate to see places like the Caribbean and the Hawaiian islands.

He enjoyed all things that he came across, fishing, camping, bowling, swimming, boating, snowmachining; you could often find him with his nose in a book, writing poetry, listening to music and playing video games.

At Lathrop High School, Vince enjoyed drama and dance class and was also proud to be on the decathlon team. After Lathrop, he took several classes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and worked in the summer in the Fairbanks area as a cook, and also as a welder’s helper out of Plumbers & Steamfitters Union Local 375.

Vincent had moved back to Tacoma to help his mother renovate a house she had bought, and was going to school at Clover Park Technical College pursuing a career in refrigeration. The family was so proud he was holding a 4.0 grade average.

His new hobby was raising pugs—he had four that he kept—and with litters of pups it was a full-time job alone. But he loved those dogs so much that when his mother offered him the choice of a motorcycle or another dog, he chose a pug named Dora over a motorcycle.

His heart went out to his new love, Sarah Hamilton; they were so perfect for each other, they were planning marriage and their life together.

He was a very compassionate young man who helped take care of his grandparents in their later years.

His family said, “Vincent will be loved and missed by all that knew him, especially his mother Heike Meyer. He was her heart and marrow that gave her life. We will miss him terribly until we see him on the other side. He was a great son. “Ich Liebe Dich Fur Immmer.’”

Vincent was preceded in death by his grandmother, Vivian Helstrom-Kummert, and grandfather, Donald Ramsay.

He leaves behind his fiancee, Sarah Hamilton; mother, Heike Meyer of Tacoma; father and stepmother, Robert and Deborah Ramsay of Fairbanks; stepbrothers and stepsisters, Jamie, Troy and Taylor Jennings of Fairbanks and Michelle Jennings of Wilbur, Wash.; grandparents, Ken and Christine Riley of Tacoma; uncles and aunts, Mitch Meyer of Tacoma, Diann (Birdy) and Marco Hernando of Tacoma, Jimmy Harvey and Carrie Eller of Oak View, Calif., and DeDe and David Lamberson of Fairbanks; many cousins; and his dogs, which he loved tremendously.

A celebration of life will be held at 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 12, at the Elk’s Lodge. Food and a no host bar will be provided.

Cards and letters may be sent to his father at 1037 Lathrop St., Fairbanks, AK 99701.

Clyde C. Hugo Clyde Charles Agnaniaq Hugo’s life ended suddenly in an ATV accident on Sept. 9, 2006, in Barrow. He was 19.

Clyde was born Jan. 13, 1987, in Fairbanks to Patrick and Beverly Hugo of Barrow. Clyde is missed deeply; he left an indelible impression on many lives. He savored life, good friends and good times. He was a great person and made life joyful. He was caring, friendly and lived by his convictions of honesty and forgiveness.

Clyde had a contagious smile that touched lives. He was a handsome and well-groomed young man who enjoyed hunting, whaling and hanging out with his family and friends.

Clyde also had a deep passion for the game of basketball. He played Little Dribblers in elementary school with the Sonics, junior high school with the Wolves, high school with the Barrow Whalers and city league with the Wolf Pack. His all-time favorite jersey number was No. 44.

Clyde attended services and youth groups at the Inupiat Assembly of God Church and served his community at traditional Inupiat Eskimo feasts there.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Clyde and Ellen Hugo of Anaktuvuk Pass and Charlie and Mary Edwardsen of Barrow.

He is survived by his parents, Patrick and Beverly Hugo of Barrow; his siblings, Jeffery Hugo and MaryJo Moore, Doris Hugo-Shavings and Darryl Shavings, Alicia Vordertrasse, John Hugo, and Mary Hugo; and nephews, Micah, Noah, and Josiah Hugo and Kenneth Vorderstrasse.

A celebration of Clyde’s life was held on Sept. 14, in Barrow at the Inupiat Assembly of God Church, officiated by Pastor David Wilson. Family, friends and mentors came from distant places to attend Clyde’s farewell service. His beloved family and friends hand-carried his casket on foot (a traditional Nunamiut Eskimo funeral ceremony) along a sunny beachside road to his resting place. Isaiah 57:1 is a special verse that helps his loved ones cope with the loss of our beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, friend, hunter, whaler, basketball player and smiley guy.

Please forward condolences and photos to his family, Patrick and Beverly Hugo, P.O. Box 677, Barrow, AK 99723.

Gilbert Nordmark
Gilbert Nordmark died peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends, on Sept. 27, 2006, he was 77.

Born in Columbus, Mont., on Oct. 12, 1928, Gil was the oldest of five children. His parents, Ingolf Nordmark and Fanny (Haaland) Nordmark, came from Norway. Gil was proud of his Norwegian heritage and recently realized a lifelong dream of traveling to Norway to meet relatives and see the childhood home of his beloved father.

Gil learned the avionics trade in the Army Air Corps as a radar and radio repairman. After his discharge in 1948, he worked in ranching, railroading and construction. In 1950, he married Viola Loman. Gil had the heart of an adventurer. As a child he read “The Call of the Wild,” and set his sights on Alaska.

In May 1952, he took his family north, and homesteaded in Fairbanks, building a home and raising five children. Gil installed and maintained radio communications and navigation sites in northern Alaska for Wien Airlines. Notable during his 25-year tenure at Wien was installation of the navigational beacon at Arctic Village and the 24-hour Point Barrow site that allowed the original SAS over-the-pole flights.

After retiring from Wien, Gil went to work for ERA Helicopters in 1977. In 1988 he took a position at Everts Air Fuel, where he worked until illness forced him to retire in May 2006. Gil’s work was meticulous and detailed. He undertook the monumental task of tracing and diagramming the schematics for the avionics systems of the Everts Air Fleet. In 1997, he received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic award from the FAA for more than 50 years of service to the aviation industry.

Gil enjoyed bluegrass music and played the accordion and guitar. He loved traveling around Alaska in the bus he converted to a camper and took his family on countless excursions. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family would gather at his home nearly every week to share a meal, visit and play games. He also loved to work with his hands and left behind many unfinished projects. Gil was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and demonstrated his love for God by manifesting Christian qualities (Galatians 6:22, 23) in all of his interactions with others. His relationship with God was strengthened during his illness when he experienced Jehovah’s loving care in many tangible ways. He and his family were comforted by the Bible’s resurrection promise (Acts 24:15).

His wife Viola died in 1989. Gil is survived by his sister, Ruth Gaustad, of Columbus, Mont.; sons Keith and Kirk, and daughters, Kimberly Sampson and Lynda McGilvary, all of Fairbanks. Gil’s oldest son, Richard, died in a climbing accident in 1971, and Gil became a father figure for his first grandchild, Richard’s daughter, Kristina. In addition to Kristina, Gil had 12 cherished grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 7, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1247 Old Steese Highway.

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